Mineral sculpture inspired by the processes of rock-water interactions, and our
perception of reality behind the naming of things. Selenite, literally the stone of the
moon – selēnē, got its name due to its shine, translucency and prismatic, multifaceted
structure. Soft stone, that can be easily scratched with a ngernail, also quickly
dissolves and deconstructs in contact with water.
As a child, I remembered a saying of my grandmother: when the moon lays like a cup that spills water, it will probably rain. This little connection embraces the complexities behind the names and meanings preserved in languages and stories: memorization of the seasons and weather, and naming of materials after visual metaphors.
Still, a cup for water made of the moon-stone is impossible.
Playing with the idea of this interaction, I exposed selenite pieces to small drops of liquid, that over time formed a cup-looking deepening. A little ode to the formations of matter, and shared views of the world, inseparable from our imagination.
Full Record Details

Launch date:
Launch mission:
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Launch location:
Launching state:
Launch vehicle COSPAR id:
19 Feb 2022
Antares 230+ / NG-17 Cygnus resupply mission
Northrop Grumman
Wallops Island, VA, USA
USA
2022-015A
Destination:
Host:
Host COSPAR id:
LEO, International Space Station (ISS)
International Space Station
1998-067A
Return date:
Return vehicle:
Landing Location:
Return vehicle COSPAR id:
Current status:
11 January 2023
Dragon CRS-26
Gulf of Mexico
2022-159A
Returned
Project partners:
Title:
Artist:
Date:
Medium:
Dimensions:
Genre:
IAAA art style:
Collection:
COSPAR id:
Formations of the cup and the rock
Elina Alekseeva
2022
Selenite
1 x 1 x 1 cm
Sculpture
Moon Gallery
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